PREDICTING football’s next big thing is a dangerous game.
From gaining the admiration and respect of your peers if proven correct, to utter embarrassment if your Brazilian wonderkid turns into a dud playing in the Dutch third tier – your footballing street credibility can truly be on the line.
They say fortune favours the brave, however, so kudos to whoever is bold enough to put their hot takes out there to the world.
And that’s exactly what Bleacher Report did in 2012.
That was back when Spain had swept Italy aside to claim their third major tournament on the spin, Chelsea somehow won the Champions League and Robin van Persie enraged Arsenal fans by following “the little boy” in him and moving to Manchester United.
Far from being distracted by that, Bleacher were busy concocting their list of who would be the beautiful game’s top ten players as far into the future as 2020.
Set to be deep in their mid-thirties by that point, surely Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would have stepped aside by then to let ten other stars shine brightest, right?
Well… not quite. They are in fact, superhuman. But that’s quite enough about who wasn’t selected, let’s take a look at who was – and see how well, or not so, they have done and where they currently reside in football’s landscape.
10. Mamadou Sakho
Sakho became a PSG regular as a teenCredit: Getty – Contributor
The Frenchman is now struggling against persistent injuries at Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty – Contributor
A regular for Paris Saint-Germain since his teens, and a pillar of Laurent Blanc’s new-look France squad, things looked rosy for Mamadou Sakho back in 2012.
An £18million move to Liverpool followed a year later and he nearly claimed a Premier League winners’ medal under Brendan Rodgers.
Things went south after he was sent home from a pre-season tour of the US for persistent tardiness by next boss Jurgen Klopp, however, and he was promptly shipped off to Crystal Palace – where he remains as a 30-year-old now blighted by injuries.
9. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oxlade-Chamberlain made his England debut as a teen back in 2012Credit: Bradley Ormesher – The Times
He now finds himself about to win his first Premier League winner’s medal at LiverpoolCredit: AFP or licensors
Having burst on to the scene at Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain found himself in England’s starting XI at Euro 2012 as a teen – with things all headed in the right direction.
His eight years since, however, have been a mixed bag, with brilliant highs including his Champions League performance against Manchester City for Liverpool, and the lows of his horrific injury troubles that kept him out for the best part of a year.
Now 26, Oxlade-Chamberlain finds himself in a good place – having abandoned the wing in favour of his more natural central midfield position – he looks set to win his first Premier League crown when the season resumes.
8. Mario Balotelli
Balotelli conjured up this iconic moment at Euro 2012Credit: AFP – Getty
He now finds himself having a tricky spell at BresciaCredit: AP:Associated Press
Having been on football fans’ radars for a while, things came together in superb fashion for Super Mario in the summer of 2012.
He laid on the title-winning assist for Sergio Aguero in May, before firing Italy to an unlikely European Championships final.
His time at City came to a swift halt, however, before a dreadful spell at Liverpool. He subsequently played well at Nice and Marseille – but has had a less enjoyable spell at Brescia this season – suffering from awful racist abuse.
The club’s controversial owner Massimo Cellino has confirmed he is likely to sack Super Mario, 29, after he missed training last week, and he has now been turned away from the club’s training ground.
7. Jack Wilshere
Wilshere was Arsenal’s brightest prospect by a mile in 2012Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
He now finds himself hoping for a regular injury-free spell in the side at West HamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
This prediction was a bold one, given that Wilshere had just missed the entirety of the 2011-12 season with injury, but the talent he had shown as a teen warranted the punt to be taken on him.
Unfortunately for Gunners fans their homegrown starlet would never be fully freed from injury trouble, although he did manage 38 appearances in all competitions in Arsene Wenger’s final season.
After speaking to new manager Unai Emery, Wilshere, now 28, was shown the door at the Emirates, opting to cross the capital to West Ham United, making 16 appearances to date for the East Londoners.
As for his once-bright England hopes, it will take a major revival with the Hammers to get him back in the starting XI.
6. Lucas Moura
Lucas was hot property after bursting into the Selecao teamCredit: AFP
The Brazilian now finds himself in a floundering Spurs sideCredit: Getty Images – Getty
After impressing in his native Brazil for Sao Paulo, Paris Saint-Germain beat off strong interest from Manchester United to sign the flying winger.
He became a regular at Parc des Princes, scoring 46 goals and assisting 48 in five-and-half years at the club, before falling out of favour following the arrivals of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
In January 2018 he moved to Spurs, where he still resides at 27, undoubtedly peaking with his Champions League semi-final hat-trick against Ajax last season.
5. Christian Eriksen
The Dane was already making waves at Ajax long before his move to EnglandCredit: Getty Images – Getty
In January he finally got his desired move to Inter MilanCredit: Reuters
Another that later found himself at Spurs, Eriksen was hot property after bursting on to the scene at Ajax as a teenager.
The playmaker arrived at White Hart Lane for a bargain £11m in 2013, providing five years of brilliant service, particularly under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Following last year’s Champions League final he clearly yearned for “something new”, however, and was granted his wish with a £20m move to Inter Milan, where he now resides at 28.
4. Thiago Alcantara
Thiago wasn’t content to wait for Xavi and Iniesta to get out of the way at BarcelonaCredit: PA:Empics Sport
The Spaniard is now a relentless conductor of Bayern’s imperious midfieldCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Having been at La Masia since the age of 14, Thiago should have been Barcelona’s natural heir to Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
Not content to wait, however, the classy midfielder left for Bayern Munich in 2013, where he has forged his reputation as a genuine superstar.
Having now won 13 trophies in Germany, Thiago regularly shows Barcelona what they’re missing with his superb, skilful displays at the Allianz Arena.
3. Eden Hazard
In 2012 Eden Hazard began his love affair with ChelseaCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
The Belgian’s first year at Real Madrid has been rather spoiled by injuryCredit: AFP or licensors
Having debuted in the Ballon d’Or shortlist a year after this prediction in 2013, Hazard was an easy pick having secured his move to Chelsea.
The Belgian sprinkled his magic over the Premier League for seven seasons, winning the Blues the title on two occasions, also scooping the Player of the Year award in 2015.
Having now peaked at eighth in the Ballon d’Or, BR weren’t too far off with this pick – although he’d have maybe had a chance of figuring higher this year if his first season at Real Madrid hadn’t been blighted by ankle trouble.
2. Mario Gotze
Gotze was hot property back in his first BVB spellCredit: Action Images – Reuters
He’ll now leave Signal Iduna Park for the second time later this yearCredit: PA
Breaking into the Borussia Dortmund side and German national team as a teenager, there was a time when Mario Gotze was arguably the hottest young talent on the market.
After helping BVB to the Champions League final in 2013, he moved to Bayern Munich – writing his name into football folklore forever more a year later by scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final for Die Mannschaft.
Sadly later suffering from myopathy, Gotze’s career has rather tailed off to this point. He rejoined BVB in 2016 but has struggled to make an impact – with the club recently announcing that his contract will not be renewed for next season.
1. Neymar
Neymar now has over 100 caps for Brazil despite only being 28Credit: AP:Associated Press
The PSG star is consistently rumoured to be returning to BarcelonaCredit: AP:Associated Press
Yet to arrive in Europe for another year when this prediction was made, it is easy to forget that Neymar was already a superstar from a very young age in Brazil.
That is shown by the fact he has already amassed 101 international caps by the age of just 28.
At Barcelona he formed part of arguably the greatest tridente in football history alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, peaking with their 2015 Champions League triumph.
Now at PSG, there often seems to be a circus (or carnival) around Neymar, almost making it easy to forget just how good a player he still is. He has peaked at third in the Ballon d’Or but perhaps could and should be able to go higher.
Moment Neymar pranks son with egg which smashes on his head as PSG star plays during lockdown
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
